A BUSTLING market which attracts visitors from all over the North West is in line for a multi-million pound facelift after a successful application for a Government grant.

Bury Council, Millgate centre owners MEPC, together with outdoor traders and market tenants, secured £5 million of funding through the Capital Challenge Scheme.

The council says it will ensure the future of the town's market well into the 21st century.

Under the proposals, a new market building will be positioned over the current Queens and Cecil blocks made up of the new fish and meat and open market stalls.

The former NatWest Bank will be demolished to a make a better "gateway" opportunity for the open market and there will be further development of new stalls at Murray Road to strengthen that end of the complex.

Plans include better weather protection for outdoor stallholders and the public, and wide-ranging market hall improvements.

But some of the market's outdoor traders have opposed the re-location of the fish and meat market because they are worried about the loss of valuable stall space.

Cllr John Byrne, Bury Council leader, said: "The council has agreed to go with the majority view in a bid to ensure that we do not lose the funding that is vital to allow much needed refurbishment of the market.

"We understand the concerns being expressed by some parties but we believe we have got to work together and at the end of the day the majority view has to be taken."

The council is now planning to liaise with all market traders to iron out individual problems.

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